School Visits to Bagot's Castle

The castle welcomes organised schools visits. The site is extensive (some 19 acres) and is uneven in places, so is only suitable for junior or senior school parties under supervision and access for the physically disabled is limited.

The castle dates from the late 1300's, the property of Sir William Bagot, a nobleman and MP of the time and sometime friend and ally of Richard II and acquaintance of the Earls of Warwick and Hereford. Much information about Bagot can be freely obtained from the Internet, to help schools' visitors understand the importance of the castle at the time.

Apart from the castle itself, visitors can explore the ornamental ponds, thought to date back to Saxon times, and suggest what connection they had to the day to day life of the castle. Also available to visit is the tank testing track, including water splash, used by the Alvis company around WWII. Next to the castle there is a level grassed area, with picnic tables for visitors to freely use whilst they wonder what the levelled grass was used for in olden times.
A visit to the castle would not be complete without looking in the Education Visitor Centre, where artefacts can be seen of the remains of a Saxon settlement (situated nearby but now buried), and also artefacts of the castle itself, recoverd during an excavation in the 1930s. Full information about the excavation, artefacts and recent structure consolidation are available in the Centre, which can accomodate about 20 children. Seats and tables are provided for talks and self study. Also available in the Centre are Children's Activity Packs, for our younger visitors. These packs entertain whilst educating on the history of the site.

We also welcome interested groups, including historical and archaeological societies and anyone else who has an interest in 14th Century history, and Warwickshire history in particular. The site has attractions spanning the Saxon Period (the site of a Saxon Settlement and nearby ponds, thought to be used to store food fish), through the Middle Ages (the Castle itself and more recent 18th century summer house) and up to the 19th Century (with remains of a 1930s excavation and also a tank testing track, used by nearby Alvis before, during and after WWII). The on-site Education Visitor Centre contains displays of many finds from the 1930s excavation, books and photographs. We can provide an expert guide who can go into detail of the castle site and answer any questions on its archaeology.
The whole site includes paths to view the attractions and interpretation boards to explain each area of interest. One path leads down to the River Sowe and in late spring this is carpeted with Bluebells. Check this website for recommended visiting dates to see these wild flowers in full bloom. Access to the castle for the physically disabled is limited, but all disabilities are welcomed at the Education Visitor Centre
A visit to Bagot's Castle provides a excellent complement to visitors who have also seen the nearby Roman Lunt Fort.